Osechi New Years Dish

OSECHI   New Years Dish in Japan

   Osechi is a traditional dish that Japanese eat on New Years Dish. It started in the Heian period (794-1185) and it is common enough to eat Osechi on New Years Day even thousand years later. Although it has a very long history, the main style of Osechi did't change. There are 7 to 9 dishes put in a special box called "Juubako". It is he red box on the picture above.The number of the dishes always has to be an odd number, because there was a belief that odd numbers are stronger than even numbers in Japan. This belief includes the number of the "Jubako", too. The "Jubako" has to be an odd number, too. It is usually three, but the cook can make it one or five.

   There are many types of dishes, and each has it's own meaning. For example, "Kurikinton" is one of them. It is mainly made of mashed sweet potatoes, sugar, and chestnuts. It is stewed until it gets soft and creamy. It is important that it looks gold after it is cooked because this dish is for wishing wealth.Here is a video making the "Kurikinton"

   Another popular dish is a boiled shrimp. This dish is for wishing for a long life. The back of the shrimps are bend and it is the symbol of long life. The Japanese people of the "Heian Period" thought that the bending back of a shrimp looked like the back of an old person. Sometimes, the cook even bends the shrimp's back even stronger. The color of the shrimp is also important. In Japan, red is a color for a celebration and a strong color. This idea is from the same belief that says even numbers are stronger. Also, the color red makes "Osechi" colorful.

  Although there are basic rules, Osechi an be changed freely by the cook's preferences. In fact, it is a food for celebration! There are many types of dishes in "Osechi". Try them and make your own Osechi!!

Here are some more dishes of Osechi.

Datemaki
This is a rolled omlet and it is very sweet. The omlet is made of egg and ground fish. It is said that it is for wishing wisdom and intelegence. This is because the shape of it is similar to the old old books.

Other Osechi dishes